WHL Lethbridge Hurricanes

2010 WHL Bantam Draft Preview

Published on April 27, 2010 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Lethbridge Hurricanes News Release


Lethbridge, AB - The 2010 WHL Bantam Draft will kick off Thursday morning (April 29th, 2010) at 8:30 AM MT from the Fantasyland Hotel and Conference Centre in Edmonton, AB. The 2010 WHL Bantam Draft is the first step in the identification of the top rated 1995-born prospects as WHL Clubs select players from this age group to add to their WHL Player Protected List. The Prince George Cougars, by virtue of their winning the 2010 Draft Lottery hold the first overall selection.

The WHL Bantam Draft lottery was held at the WHL Office in Calgary to determine the order of the first six selections in the first round of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft and involved the six non-playoff teams (Edmonton, Lethbridge, Prince Albert, Prince George, Regina and Seattle) from the 2009-10 season.

A Prince George Cougars ball was drawn first in the lottery, giving the Cougars the first overall selection in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. The Edmonton Oil Kings, based on their position in the overall 2009-10 WHL Regular Season standings, will receive the second pick in the first round while the Lethbridge Hurricanes will select third. The Seattle Thunderbirds will have the fourth pick overall while the Regina Pats and the Prince Albert Raiders will draft in the fifth and sixth positions respectively. The order of the second round and all other rounds will be the inverse order of final 2009-10 WHL regular-season standings.

The Lethbridge Hurricanes, as the result of deals made this season currently hold their own selections, 3rd in the first and second round, as well as Regina's second round selection (5th in the second round - 27th overall) and Tri City's second round selection (19th in the second round - 41st overall) giving Lethbridge a total of four selections in the top 41 picks.

"We know all too well the importance of this year's draft coming off of what was a non playoff season this year in Lethbridge." says Hurricanes Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Brad Robson "Though most of these players who we draft on Thursday will be 2 or 3 years away from reaching their potential in the WHL, we know that by selecting four players in the first two rounds that we are getting some very high level talent and building on a great stable of players for the future."

In the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft, the Canes selected forward Riley Bennefield with their first selection - 33rd overall in the second round. This year's pick will be the Hurricanes first lottery pick since selecting Alex Theriau in 2007 with the 6th pick overall and it will mark the Canes first ever selection in the top 3 of the WHL Draft. Other notable Hurricanes first selections include: Carter Ashton (7th overall in 2006); Dwight King (4th overall in 2004); Ben Wright (25th overall in 2003) and Brent Seabrook (8th overall in 2000).

The Canes ended 09-10 with 10 players in their lineup who were originally selected by Lethbridge in the WHL Bantam Draft. As well as five players who were originally drafted by another team in the WHL Bantam Draft. This included all four of the Canes Alternate Captains: Cam Braes (Lethbridge 2006 - 2nd rd.), Austin Fyten (Lethbridge 2006 - 2nd rd.), Brennan Yadlowski (Lethbridge 2006 - 5th rd.) and Mike Reddington (Spokane 2005 - 2nd rd.).

"For our scouting staff and for many of these young prospects this is one of the most exciting times of the year because it is the next step in the long process of identifying and developing players for the Western Hockey League." says Robson, a veteran with 17 years experience as Western Regional scout with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars organization and now entering his 3rd WHL Bantam Draft with the Hurricanes "Having as many picks as we have in the first and second round, we know that we will be gaining some valuable assets who are sure to in one way or another make an impact on our organizational depth chart."

The 21st Annual WHL Bantam Draft will be posted live on www.whl.ca. Click on the WHL Bantam Draft icon on the www.whl.ca homepage or through the link at lethbridgehurricanes.com for real time results.

Players eligible for the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft will be 1995-born players who reside in Alberta, B.C., Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon, and the following States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Hurricanes 2009 WHL Bantam Draft Summary:

1st round (11th overall) - Traded to Everett

2nd round (33rd overall) - F - Ryley Bennefield 5'10", 160 lbs. - Wetaskiwin, AB

Bantam Club: Allen's Transport Oil Kings (Leduc) - AMBHL B/D: Mar. 30/94

3rd round (47th overall - from Chilliwack) - F - Sam McKechnie 5'7", 140 lbs. Airdrie, AB

Bantam Club: Airdrie Xtreme - AMBHL B/D: Jul. 8/94

3rd round (55th overall) - D - Adam Henry 5'11" 160 lbs. - Winnipeg, MB

Bantam Club: Winnipeg Hawks Bantam AAA - Winnipeg AAA B/D: Nov.24/94

4th round (77th overall) - F - Jaimen Yakubowski 5'9", 165 lbs. - Dalmany, SK

Bantam Club: Warman Wildcats - Central Four Hockey League B/D: May 28/94

5th round (99th overall) - Traded to Moose Jaw

5th round (103rd overall - from Everett) - F - Mitchell Guiel 5'7", 130 lbs. - Langley, BC

Bantam Club: Langley Eagles AAA (PCAHA) B/D: Aug.6/94

6th round (111th overall - from M.J.) - D - Braxton Bilous 6'0", 160 lbs. - Langley, BC

Bantam Club: Langley Eagles AAA (PCAHA) B/D: May 2/94

6th round (121st overall) - F - Russell Maxwell 5'5", 135 lbs. - Magrath, AB Bantam Club: Lethbridge Val Matteotti Golden Hawks (AMBHL) B/D: Feb.17/94

7th round (143rd overall) - Traded to Chilliwack

8th round (165th overall) - F - Mason Blacklock 6'0, 150 lbs. - White Rock, BC

Bantam Club: Semiahmoo Ravens (PCAHA) B/D: Feb.23/94

9th round (187th overall) - Traded to Medicine Hat

10th round (209th overall) - Traded to Kamloops

11th round (231st overall) - Traded to Portland

12th round (253rd overall) - D - Harrison Harper 6'0", 172 lbs. - Calgary, AB

Bantam Club: North West Calgary Bronks (AMBHL) B/D: Jul.17/94

13th round (275th overall) - D - Valik Chichkin 6'0" 160 lbs. - Burnaby, BC

Bantam Club: Burnaby Winter Club Tier 1A1 B/D: Feb.3/94

Hurricanes WHL Bantam Draft picks in the 09-10 lineup:

Brandon Anderson Bantam Draft Pick 2007 (3rd round - 50th overall)

Derek Ryckman Bantam Draft Pick 2007 (6th round - 119th overall)

Mark Reners Bantam Draft Pick 2007 (1st round - 18th overall)

Brennan Yadlowski Bantam Draft Pick 2006 (5th round - 97th overall)

Cam Braes Bantam Draft Pick 2006 (3rd round - 48th overall)

Austin Fyten Bantam Draft Pick 2006 (2nd round - 27th overall)

Philip Tot Bantam Draft Pick 2008 (1st round - 18th overall)

Ryon Moser Bantam Draft Pick 2007 (10th round - 207th overall)

Neil Tarnasky Bantam Draft Pick 2007 (8th round - 163rd overall)

Reid Jackson Bantam Draft Pick 2008 (2nd round - 28th overall)

Hurricanes 2010 WHL Bantam Draft Summary of picks:

1st round (3rd overall) -

2nd round (25th overall) - 2nd round (27th overall from Regina) -

2nd round (41st overall from Tri City) -

3rd round (69th overall) - Traded to Regina

4th round (91st overall) -

5th round (113th overall) - Traded to Regina

5th round (125th overall from Kootenay) -

6th round (135th overall) - Traded to Kelowna

7th round (157th overall) - Traded to Kootenay

8th round (179th overall) -

9th round (201st overall) -

10th round (223rd overall) -

11th round (245th overall) -

12th round (267th overall) -

Check out the Lethbridge Hurricanes Statistics

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Western Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2010


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